How Two Kent State Students Allegedly Became the Face of an $11 Million Senior Fraud Ring

KENT, Ohio — In September of this year, federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping criminal complaint alleging that two Kent State University students, Touhedul Tuhin, 25, and Iftekhar Latif Nieon, 23, acted as couriers or “money mules” in a multi‑state fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in New York and Ohio. The case is part of a broader initiative known as “Save Our Seniors,” which has uncovered more than eleven million dollars in actual and attempted losses to date and named 139 victims nationwide.

According to court filings, the pair are charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The criminal complaint alleges they collected cash in person from elderly victims after scammers, operating mostly remotely, convinced those victims they owed money to government agencies or needed to “correct” fraudulent charges or refund errors.

The Pattern of the Scheme

The scheme relied on impersonation and technological coercion. Scammers posed as agents of the Federal Trade Commission, as tech support from Microsoft or Geek Squad, or as representatives from PayPal. They contacted older adults by phone, email or pop‑up warnings and told them that unauthorized charges or computer problems had been identified. In some instances, victims were informed a “refund error” had occurred and that they needed to withdraw funds to return the extra or to prevent a worse penalty.

One documented case involved a 68‑year‑old man in Orchard Park, New York. He was told he owed $40,000 to the federal government by someone claiming to be an FTC special agent. He withdrew the funds and handed them over to two individuals who came to his home. In another instance an 81‑year‑old in western New York was told a Microsoft Defender order was fraudulent; after remote access was granted to his computer, a refund error was fabricated and he was instructed to withdraw $38,000 to “correct” it. In Ohio, an 82‑year‑old Pepper Pike resident was called by someone claiming to be a PayPal representative. He was told an error threatened his account, withdrew $15,000, and delivered it in person.

The complaint ties the money pickups to the two suspects by cellphone geolocation data, vehicle registration records, and identification by victims or witnesses. A car registered to Tuhin was logged traveling between Ohio and New York on the same dates as pickups. One victim in Orchard Park identified Tuhin in a photo lineup as the person who collected $40,000 from him. In the Pepper Pike case the victim noted that the car used was registered to Tuhin’s roommate. Meanwhile Nieon’s cellphone records placed him at locations linked to multiple frauds, and his bank account received roughly $55,000 in cash deposits despite his claim of having no personal income.

Prosecutors in New York tied the pair to a combined $276,000 in losses or attempted losses, including several additional incidents in New York beyond the three publicized victims. The broader “Save Our Seniors” probe involves eight defendants overall, employing tactics such as romance scams, identity theft, and computer fraud in addition to money mule schemes. One of the key observations by prosecutors is that the fraudsters did not use a fixed method, they adapted to different vulnerabilities among victims.

Local Role and Law Enforcement Coordination

The Pepper Pike police post credited Detective Sergeant Kuznik with helping connect the local component of the case to the federal investigation. Cooperation across local, state, and federal levels was essential: the central scams occurred across state lines, but at the final stage, money collection was local. The ability to trace vehicle movements, match cellphone signals, and identify in‑person couriers required cross‑jurisdictional coordination.

In New York, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo led the announcement of the broader arrest sweep. He emphasized that these cases reflect a growing, sophisticated threat to older Americans. Among the eight arrested, not all were students; some were farther along in criminal networks. The diversity of tactics in use demonstrated how fraud rings exploited multiple levers.

Underlying Issues: Why Seniors Are Targeted

Experts and law enforcement agree that fraudsters disproportionately target older adults for multiple reasons. First, many seniors have accumulated life savings or fixed incomes, making any loss more damaging. Second, they may be less familiar with modern scam techniques, technology, or digital communication, making them more vulnerable to manipulation. Third, older individuals may feel shame or fear about reporting such crimes, delaying law enforcement intervention.

Data reinforces the trend: in 2024 the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded nearly $4.885 billion in losses to elder fraud from over 147,000 complaints; a 46 percent increase in complaint volume and 43 percent increase in losses compared to the prior year. Scammers use a wide toolbox including tech support fraud, romance scams, lottery fraud, grandparent scams, and money mule recruitment.

In Ohio specifically, state regulators noted a sharp rise in complaints from older citizens. The Ohio Division of Securities reported 302 scam or fraud complaints from seniors in one reporting year; a rise of 22 percent over the previous year.

Another structural concern is the “money mule” model itself. By enlisting couriers who collect cash in person, the core operators insulate themselves. If the mules are students or people with no prior crimes, they may not trigger immediate suspicion. The couriers become disposable links, easily replaced. The model also makes recovery harder because physical cash vanishes faster than digital traces.

Finally, there is the matter of immigration status. Tuhin and Nieon are alleged to be in the United States on student visas. If convicted, their legal status could factor into defense strategies and potential immigration consequences. The case illustrates how transnational or cross‑border fraud rings may exploit visa systems to recruit financial conduits.

Legal and Ethical Challenges

From a legal standpoint, prosecutors must prove that Tuhin and Nieon knowingly participated in the fraud scheme, not merely carried bags. Defense attorneys may argue ignorance, coercion, or misidentification. The multiple alleged counts include conspiracy charges, which permit prosecutors to tie individuals to overarching criminal networks.

Ethically, there is tension between deterrence and the risk of overcharging or miscasting youthful participants who may have been influenced by more powerful actors. The press, too, must report carefully so as not to defame individuals before conviction.

From a prevention standpoint, law enforcement and regulators must balance outreach, education, and enforcement. Seniors need accessible resources to verify unusual demands, confirm calls with trusted family members or official hotlines, and report suspected fraud early. The more victims suspect first, the earlier a case can be intercepted.

What Comes Next

Both Tuhin and Nieon appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson, who ordered them held pending further proceedings. If convicted, they could face decades in prison, along with restitution orders. The broader “Save Our Seniors” initiative continues to press cases in multiple jurisdictions and clamp down on money mule networks.

The case is a stark example of how modern fraud combines digital manipulation with old‑fashioned cash handoffs. As scams evolve, protection of older Americans depends on vigilance, interagency cooperation, and stronger public awareness.

In the words of U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo, these schemes “take advantage of our parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles” and must be met with resolute investigation and prosecution.

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